The Knights were led by second-year head coach Josh Heupel and played their home games at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

However, they suffered three road losses (by a combined total of 7 points) to finish 10–3 and in second place in the American Athletic Conference East Division.

True freshman Dillon Gabriel emerged as the starting quarterback, earning the job over Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush, and returning redshirt sophomore Darriel Mack Jr., who had suffered a broken ankle during the offseason.

UCF also established an NCAA Division I FBS record (since the poll era began in 1936) of most consecutive games scoring 30 or more points (31 total).

[3] Just prior to the start of preseason training camp, quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. suffered a broken ankle in a non-football related incident.

[5] On August 22, one week before the season opener, head coach Josh Heupel announced that Wimbush would start, while Gabriel "will get an opportunity to play in the first game as well.

"[6] On August 12, the UCF athletic department announced that the entire season-ticket allotment was sold out for the first time in school history.

In the press release, UCF athletic director Danny White teased a possible expansion of Spectrum Stadium in the near future if ticket demand remains high.

The Knights rushing, led by Greg McRae, Bentavious Thompson, and Otis Anderson Jr., compiled 312 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Freshman Dillon Gabriel started at quarterback for the second week in a row, and led the Knights to a decisive 45–27 victory over Stanford.

[13] Pitt defeated the Knights by the score of 35–34, to snap UCF's regular season winning streak at 27 games.

In the final minute, the Panthers drove for the game-winning touchdown, scored on trick play dubbed the "Pitt Special".

Early in the second quarter, Pitt blocked a UCF punt, and it was recovered by Wendell Davis who returned it 18 yards for a Panthers touchdown.

A Face mask, a Roughing the passer, and a Personal Foul on successive plays, set the Panthers up at the UCF 8 yard line.

Facing 4th down & 2 at the 3, Pitt executed a trick play, which was a fake run to the right, then Aaron Mathews threw to on open Kenny Pickett for the game-winning touchdown.

Trailing 27–16 early in the fourth quarter, UCF drove to the Bearcats 14 yard line, but Gabriel's third interception of the night ended the drive without points.

Injuries had sidelined several UCF players, but late in the third quarter Gabriel connected with Tre Nixon for a 53-yard touchdown pass and a more comfortable 41–22 Knights lead.

The rally by East Carolina stalled, as driving to the UCF 35 yard line, Trace Christian fumbled and it was recovered by the Knights.

Early in the fourth quarter, East Carolina drove to the UCF 23, but Holton Ahlers' pass was intercepted by Antwan Collier at the 9 yard line.

[17] UCF kept alive their home winning streak at Spectrum Stadium, extending it to a school record 19 consecutive games.

UCF added another touchdown in the fourth quarter, and held Temple to only two plays from scrimmage in Knights territory in the second half.

Trailing 34–31 late in the fourth quarter, the Knights drove to the Tulsa 47 yard line, but turned the ball over on downs with 1:27 remaining in regulation.

On their first possession of the third quarter, UCF drove 70 yards in twelve plays, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Darriel Mack Jr.

It appeared at first that Tulane may have recovered the onside kick, but after review, it was determined the ball had touched kicker Merek Glover before it had gone ten yards.

As Killins was being tackled, he grabbed the facemask of USF defensive back Nick Roberts, triggering a big scuffle.

On a rainy afternoon, the Knights soundly defeated Marshall by the score of 48–25, with big plays on defense, and a strong performance by starting quarterback, and game MVP, Dillon Gabriel.

Marshall received the opening kickoff, but on the third play of the game, quarterback Isiah Green's pass was tipped then fell into the hands of Richie Grant, who returned the ball 39 yards for a UCF touchdown.

With 7 minutes left in the first quarter, an intended lateral by Green to Talik Keaton was tipped and knocked loose by Knights defender Tre-Mon Morris Brash.

With Darriel Mack Jr. in at quarterback, an apparent UCF touchdown run by Bentavious Thompson was called back due to a holding penalty.

On the following play, Mack's pass was intercepted by Micah Abraham, who stepped in front of the intended receiver, and ran it back 75 yards for a touchdown.